Ever its release in 2007, the iPhone has become one of the most advanced handheld devices and smartphones on the market today. With its wide range of functions, features, and applications all packed into a sleek design, the iPhone has also become an essential part of many people’s daily lives:They used it to check e-mail on the run, talk with family and friends from around the world, and even check up on the weather, stock portfolios, and more!
An upcoming new accessory for the iPhone, however, will make it far more incredible than it already is. With the help of a new device known as “Lapka,” users will not only be able to keep track of their environment’s radiation levels, humidity, and electromagnetic fields, but will also be able to check whether or not their food is organic.
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Some rights reserved by William Hook
Some rights reserved by William HookWhat Lapka does
Lapka consists of four different sensors that all lock in together to create a small and handheld rectangular shape. Each sensor has a unique function – humidity, electromagnetism, radiation detection, and organic analysis – and plugs into the iPhone’s headphone jack. Through a free app on the iPhone, the sensors can send data about a user’s surroundings or food directly to them in a way that’s understandable.
The sensors, however, are more advanced than their functions suggest: For example, the radiation sensor will not only check radiation but also compare the measured levels to the average in that particular area. This means that users on an airplane – which often have a greater level of radiation – will not be warned about radiation exposure because the phone will know that greater radiation on airplanes is perfectly normal.
Checking to see whether or not food is organic, however, is the “magnum opus” of Lapka’s features. Consisting of a small steel probe that’s injected into food, the sensor will measure for nitrate concentration, which is a commonly-used component of non-organic fertilizers. Users are then delivered this information onto their phone, eliminating the need to question whether or not their food is truly organic.
How it’s used
As mentioned earlier, all information gathered by the sensors are sent through the headphone jack to a free app. Instead of confusing users with scientific jargon and units such as “parts per million (PPM),” it instead takes a far more simplistic approach: Using an “is this acceptable”-type scale, users are able to easily see whether or not their environment or food is safe to be in. For example, if a chicken breast shows to have excessive levels of radiation or a high concentration of nitrate, the app will tell the user that eating it might not be a great idea.
How it looks
Unlike many other iPhone accessories that are comparable to cumbersome hunks of plastic, Lapka uses an elegant combination of wood and a white plastic similar to ivory. The aesthetic is said to have been inspired by Apple’s line of computers and mobile devices, which are notorious for being sleek, elegant, natural, and contemporary in appearance.
How it’s priced
Although the app is free, Lapka and its sensors will be priced at around $220 upon its release in December of 2012.
Chris KeenanAbout the Guest Author:
Chris Keenan is a blogger for il Tulipano, a New Jersey catering company specializing in providing organic catering options.
